Mechanical movement



Filed May 4, 1932 r o t n e n n 3 Gttomegs Patented July 4, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFEQZE JOSEPH J). KREIS, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE ERIE DYEIN G & PROCESSI1\[G (30., OF CLEVELAND, OHIO,

A CORPORATION OF OHIQ MECHANICAL MOVEMENT I Application filed May 4, 1932. Serial No. 609,163.

This invention relates to mechanism for producing irregular or non-repeating cam stroke phases and the primary object in View is to provide a prime mover or cam assembly which will initiate strokes each occurring at a different phase in each respective cycle, or which will not repeat for substantially an indefinite number of cycles or revolutions of the cam. The terms indefinite and nonrepeating as applied herein are not to be construed in their literal sense, but are superlative expressions used in a relative sense to denote that the stroke is non-repeating or indefinite insofar as most practical purposes are concerned.

Such mechanism has found a valuable field of use in yarn-printing machines, spinning machines and analogous textile machinery adapted for producing yarn or thread hav ing irregularly spaced colored or configured portions and which are subsequently knit or woven into fabrics having :a mottled appearance. It will be apparent, however, that the mechanism to be described may be 7 found useful in many and varied lines of industry and that its particular-application in the present instance has been adopted for illustrative purposes only.

In the drawing v Figure l is a view in section and side elevation ofmechanism embodying the features of the invention shown .operatively connected to an. attachment for spinning machines; I

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the'line 2-2 of Fig; 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail view in side elevation of a cam plate or hunting gear forming part of the assembly; and,

Fig. 4 is a representation of one type of yarn or thread that may be produced with the mechanism when used in conjunction with a spinning attachment.

Briefly stated, the mechanism compr ses a plurality of radially movable cam unlts or plungers and one or more hunting gears or cam plates mounted in cooperative relation with said plungers and adapted to have relative angular movement with respect thereto, each gear being provided wlth a plurality of teeth the total number of whichsis prime with respect to the total number of of a retainer plate 10, formed with a stop flange 11, said plate being secured to said hous'mg 5 by suitable fastening means such as rivets or bolts 12. The housing 5 is provided with a gear 13, which is shown formed integrally therewith but which could obviously be a separate member and suitably secured thereto.

The reference numerals 14, 14a, designate what may be termed hunting gears or cam plates which are provided with bearings l5 and mounted for free relative rotation on the same axis as the above-described plunger and housing assembly, or the shaft 16. A cap nut 17 holds the complete assembly on the shaft 16.

The hunting gears 14, lea, are each provided with a plurality of teeth 14% and 140 whose total number is prime with respect to the number of plungers 8. In the example shown, gear let is provided with twenty-five teeth and gear 14a with twenty-seven teeth, while there are twenty-six plungers. Teeth 140 are shallow with respect to teeth 1% and may be considered as cam teeth, since when one of the plungers 8 engage these teeth, a cam stroke is imparted to the plunger.

It will be seen that each of the plungers 8 are free for radial-sliding movement except that plunger which is actually in contact with cam roller 20, and further, that the hunting gears 14, 14a are free to have relative angular movement withrespect to the housing 5 and said plungers. Since each gear 14, 14a, bears a plurality of teeth whose number is prime with respect to the numbers of plungcrs, said gears will be advanced or retarded for each revolution of the plungers; gear 14 having twenty-five teeth being advanced and gear 1 1a having twenty-seven teeth being retarded one tooth for each revolution of said plungers. Thus the cam strokes of the plungers 8 will occur at a diiierent phase in the cycle of rotation of the plungers for a number of revolutions equal to the product of 25 27, it being understood that the cam teeth 1 10 of the respective hunting gears are initially set in staggered relation or out of transverse alignment. Assuming that another hunting gear having twenty-nine teeth were added to the complement, then repetition would not occur for a number of revolutions equal to the product of X 27 X 29. In other words, the cam stroke phase is rendered non-repeating in direct proportionto the number of teeth of the respective hunting gears which may be installed in the assembly with the cam teeth of the gears in staggered relation to one another.

To illustrate one of the uses to which the mechanism may be put, it is shown mounted in operative relation to a spinning attachment adapted to produce yarn or thread having shades R and B and rb of irregular lengths as well as irregularly wrapped or bulging portions L, as exemplified in Fig. 4. The attachment as herein shown comprises an oscillating lever 21, which is pivotally mounted on a pin 22. A link 23 pivotally connects lever 21 with a cam lever 24, which carries the cam roller 20 and is pivotally mounted at one extremity on a pin 25. The strands which go to make up the pattern shown in Fig. i are designated B and R and are passed over guide rolls 26 and pins 27, the latter being fastened on opposite extremities of the oscillating lever 21. The strands are passed thru an eye 28 and then connect with a spinning machine, not shown. It is obvious that various refinements and modifications could be made in the construction of the attachment, but this particular part of the structure is only included to show one application of the mechanism, and forms no essential part of the present invention. The incoming strands B and B may be taken from bobbins or the like and maintained under tension, which may be variable if desired.

The operation of the attachment when operatively connected to the irregular phase mechanism is substantially as follows In the position shown in Fig. 2, the plunger 8 which is in contact with the roller 20 is in a retracted position. In this position the strand marked B will be wrapped closely around the strand R, covering the latter from exterior view. Let it be assumed that the strand B is black and the strand R "is red. The result is that the black portion B shown in Fig. 4 is formed on the thread.

When a stroke is imparted to one of the plungers 8 by reason of its engagement in one of the teeth 14c, lever 21 will be oscillated to a position reverse to that shown in Fig. 2, resulting in the red strand being wrapped closely around the black strand and forming the red portion R. The teeth 140 obviously may be given varying depths. Assuming that certain of these teeth have a neutral depth, or a depth intermediate the teeth 14?) and 140, then the thread will be formed with the striped shade rZ2. Assuming that teeth 140 are formed with a dwell, then lever 21 will be maintained in an advanced position for a length of time which will produce the enlarged effect L shown in Fig. 4, which efiect may be enhanced by applying tension to one of the strands while it is being wrapped or spun. For instance, if tension is applied to the red strand It while the lever 21 is in the position shown in Fig. 2, an enlarged black portion will be formed on the strand.

Thread having a pattern along the lines of that shown in Fig. 4 may be made into tweeds and worsted materials which have a very attractive appearance.

It will be obvious that the housing 13 and retainer plate 10, together with the plungers 8 could be made to accommodate quite a number of hunting gears 1414a, so that the phase of the plungers 8 could be rendered non-repeating sufiicient for all practical purposes. It will also be understood that the specific construction shown in the drawing has been adopted for the purpose of illustration and may be varied and modified at will. without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is 1.'In mechanism of the class specified, a plurality of radially movable cam units, means for supporting said units in operative association, and a relatively rotatable hunting gear provided with teeth adapted to engage said units, the number of teeth in said gear and the number of units being prime with respect to one another.

2. In mechanism of the class specified, a plurality of cam units, means for supporting said units in radial movable association, and one or a plurality of relatively rotatable hunting gears provided with teeth adapted to engage said plungers, the number of teeth of each of said hunting gears being prime with respect to the number of plungers.

3. In mechanism of the class specified, a plurality of cam units, means for supporting the said units in radially movable association, and a hunting gear provided with teeth adapted to engage said units, certain of said teeth being adapted to impart cam movements to said units, the total number of said hunting gear teeth and the total number of plungers being prime with respect to one another. a.

4. In mechanism of the class specified, a radially grooved housing, a plurality of plungers mounted for limited radial movement in said housing, a hunting gear mounted in said housing and adapted to have relative angular movement with respect thereto, said hunting gear being provided with teeth adapted to coact with said plungers and impart radial movement to the latter, the number of teeth and the number of plungers being prime with respect to one another.

5. In mechanism of the class specified, a radially grooved housing, a plurality of cam units mounted for limited radial movement in said housing, one or a plurality of hunting gears mounted on the same axis as said housing and adapted to have relative angular movement with respect thereto, said hunting gears being provided with teeth adapted to coact with said units, certain of said teeth being shallow to impart radial movement to said plungers, the number of teeth in said gears being prime with respect to the number of units.

6. In mechanism of the class specified, a radially grooved rotatable housing, a. plurality of independently movable cam units mounted in said grooves, one or a plurality of hunting gears mounted on the same axis as said housing and adapted to have relative angular movement with respect thereto, said gears being provided with teeth adapted to coact witl said units, the latter having a floating engagement with said teeth except one point in their cycle where they are pressed into positive engagement and rotate said gears, the total number of units and teeth being prime with respect to each other.

7. In mechanism of the class specified, a rotatable housing, a plurality of independently movable cam units mounted for limited radial movement in said housing, one or a plurality of hunting gears mounted for relative angular movement within said housing I and provided with teeth whose total number bears a prime relation to the total number of units, said units having a floating engagement with said teeth except at one point in their cycle where they are urged against and cause positive rotation of said gears, each of said gears being advanced or retarded for each revolution of the units.

8. In mechanism of the class specified, a rotatable housing, a plurality of independently radially movable cam units carried by said housing, a hunting gear mounted in said housing and adapted to have relative angular movement with respect thereto, said gear being provided with teeth whose total number is prime with respect to the total number of units, certain of said teeth being sha1- low to thereby impart a cam movement to said units when engaged therein, the cam units having a floating action with respect to said teeth except at one point in their cycle where they are pressed into mesh with the teeth and cause positive rotation of said gear.

9. In mechanism of the class specified, a rotatable radially grooved housing, a plurality of cam plungers mounted for limited free radial movement in said housing, and one or a plurality of gears mounted in axial alinement with and having relative angular movement relatively to said housing and provided with teeth having positive engagement with said plungers at one point only in the cycle of rotation of the latter and a floating engagement therewith during the remainder of the cycle, the total number of teeth and total number of plungers being prime with respect to one another.

10. A device for producing substantially non-repeating cam stroke phases, comprising a plurality of radially movable plungers, a housing for retaining said plungers in operative association, and means for imparting cam strokes to said plungers comprising one or a plurality of hunting gears provided with teeth having a prime relation to the number of plungers and mounted in relatively rotational axial alinement with said housing.

- vIn testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature this 14th day of April, 1932.

JOSEPH D. KREIS. 

